Method of obtaining data for reproducing three-dimensional objects



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,458

M. SCHIESARI METHOD OF OBTAINING DATA FOR REPRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS Filed March 13 1924 2 Sheets-Shoot 1 INVENTOR Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,458

M. 'SCHIESARI METHOD OF OBTAINING DATA FOR RBPRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS Filed March 13 1924 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 Z7 1 1 mg V l,i 0 JJ 1 .ih

INVENTOR l Patented Aug. 17,1926.

1,596,458 PATENT OFFICE.

iriiaio scmiisam, or NEW roan, ll. Y.

MOD 0! OBTAINING DATA FOR BEYBODUCING THBEE-DIIIHBIOHAL OBJECTS.

Application fled Iaroh 18, 1924. Serial ll'o. 888,899.

This invention relates to a method of ob taining data to be used in reproducing threedimensional objects, and more particularly refers to improvements over e methods heretofore described by me in two coending applications, entitled Method 0 and apparatus for making scul tures, filed February 5, 1924, Serial 0. 690,776, and Method of and apparatus for sculpturing, filed Februa 26, 1924, Serial No. 695,227.

In=the app ication first mentioned, I disclose a new method of reproducing three dimensional objects, which is based on the emplo ment of. profiles of the object to be repro uced, controlling the operation of the carving tool or tools. The profiles thus emplo ed were obtained by moving a tracking sty us over the surface of the object to be reproduced, at e ually distanced intervals; the totality of t e profiles thus obtained forming, collectively, the diagram of the 11 the other application, I describe another method of accomplishing the'same object, which is based on the setting of the carving tool or tools used, for a given depth of enetration for each point of the surface to produced, the positional and depth data for said tools being obtained from a diagram in tabulated form, in which all points of the surface are referred to a common plane, and in which each point is identified by its ordinate and abscissa on said plane, and by its distance therefrom. The tabulated diagrams were obtained b means of a stylus vertically and horizonta ly adjustable on a lane set in front of the article to be repro uced, successively set at equidistant points in horizontal and vertical rows on said plane, representing positions corres onding to a screen-like subdivision of said p ane; said stylus being adjusted axially at each point, to furnish the indication of distance of said point from the plane of reference.

In both applications I have also described alternative methods of obtaining the said data, to be subsequently used for the guide ingor setting of the tools employed in making the reproduction; but in both cases,

while the object of producing a graphic rec- 0rd of a three-dimensional object giving sufficient information for the reproduction of said object at anytime and place, without the original being actually available was satisfactorily attained, yet the methods devide ap scribed for obtaining said records entailed a considerable amount of work and care, and the employment of considerable time. Furthermore they require the employment of special apparatus, and, also re resent a good deal of inconvenience for t e model,

if this is a living subject.

In fact, the requirements of the said methods may make them totally unsuitable for the reproduction of delicate work, or of living subjects, on account of the lack of accuracy which may follow; and in some cases, also, where hysical contact with the object to be repro uced may not be had, for instance, in connection with museum exhibits, where no handling or displacing of works of art is allowed. The main object of the present invention s to rovide a novel and improved method where y an accurate graphic record of a sculpture or of a living subject may be obtained without the necessity ofany ph s'ical contact with the original, said method iibsplutely eliminating the use of a tracking loo Another object of this invention, is to proaratus suitable for use in connection w t projecting means, whereby depth indications for tabulated diagrams, or graphic profiles, may be conveniently obtamed, after the preliminary steps in my method have been carried out.

Other ob'ects and advantages of this invention wi more clearly appear as the description proceeds, and will be set forth in the ap ended claims.

My invention is based on, and represents an improvement over a method of reproducing ob ects described in a atent anted to J. H. mith June 16,1908, rial 0. 891,013, and also described in a sim lified form in the February, 1924, issue 0 the Scientific American.

According to said method, the object to be reproduced is placed on a stand or chair so as to be exposed to the action of two or more camera rojectors arranged at different angles to t 0 object, and having their optical axes coinciding upon the object. As-

suming that only two camera projectors are used, such as is the case where the stand is rotatable and adjustable at different horizontal angular positions, one projector is u on the subject as a lantern slide. The otiher camera-projector is used as a camera, taking ictures of the subject while under screen i umination.

The photographic plates thus obta ned, in conjunction with the screen, constitute a record of the form of the subject. In the production of statuary, the record photographs, usually in the form of the original glass negatives, are used one at a time, by projecting them from the same position as they formerly occupied in the camera-projector, when the photographs were made, while a screen similar to the one originally used is also projected by the other cameraprojector. For each marking letter, line, etc.) found on the photograp a corresponding marking will be found on the screen, because all markings on the photograph were produced by the pro ected light passing through the screen to the sub ect and there bein reflected back into the camera to the p otographic plate. Therefore, it may be readily understood that if both photograph and screen are pro ected simultaneously, the light beams from corresponding markings will cross in space at points where these beams were reflected from the subject to the camera when the photographs were made.

Therefore, if material such as clay, be built on the modelin stand, at the point where these corresponding light beams cross in such a way as to cause the image of one marking to fall directly upon that of the other, the surface thus receiving the light will occupy the same position as the corresponding surface of the model or subject, when the photographs were taken.

Thus it may be seen that by building or carving the material until the corresplonding markings of screen and record p otograph coincide over the whole surface a,

true reproduction of the form of the subjectwill be the result.

The size of statue is regulated by varying the distance from center stand to cameraprojectors, after the record photographs have been obtained.

he present invention is based on the application of a similar principle to mechanical processes of reproduction, where, as stated, a graphic record is needed for the guiding or setting ofthe carving tool used.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the optical system used in carrying out the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the screens used;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating the manner in which the screen marks are projected upon the object to be photographed and reproduced;

' Fig. 5 is a plan view of an apparatus which may be used for obtaining the data of netration of the carving tools to be use in making a reproduction;

Fig. 6 is same; and, V

Fig. 7 is a detail cross sectional view of the same through line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The preliminary step of my method is similar to that described in the patent abovementioncd, and is illustrated in Fig. 1., In the same, 10 designates a stand, rotatable around its vertical axis, and adjustable at any angular position by means of a graduation 11 and a pointer 12. The model to be reproduced, 13, is placed on the stand, and two camerarojectors, 14, 15, are arranged at an ang e to the model, on radially extending guide-ways or tracks 16, 17, so as to be movable towards and away from the stand.

A screen 18, the surface of which is divided in a number of subdivisions or squares 19 by equidistant vertical lines 20 and horizontal lines 21, and which is then painted black, leaving a plurality of equidistant points 22 exposed in each square, is placed in one of the camera-projectors, which is used simply as a pro'ecting lantern. Extraneous ight is then s ut out, and the luminous points of the screen are projected by means of a stron light upon the object to the photographed. The general effect of such projection is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, some of the luminous points being omitted.

The other camera-projector is used as a camera, and the model, with the projected impression of the screen thereon. is photographed. After this is done, the screen is removed from the lantern, and the object or model is, if desired, photographed in the same position, this photograph being of assistance in finishing and retouching the Work of the reproducing carving tool.

Both camera-projectors are preferably set at the same distance fom the stand, although with suitable modifications in the carrying out of the other steps, the method may also be applied if the distance of one cameraprojector does not correspond to the distance of the other.

It is now obvious, that if the two cameraprojectors are placed at the same relative angle and position, the screen being placed in one used as a projecting lantern, and the photographic plate being placed in the other, similarly used, and the light is shut out from all luminous points of the screen but one, the same being done in connection with the markings on the plate, but the one corresponding to the luminous point exposed, the two beams of light thus produced will meet at a point in space correspondin to the point of the surface of the model on which the original corresponding luminous point of the screen was projected.

a side view in elevation of the but the distance of This being so, if a plane surface is moved along a line centrally dividing the an le between the two camera-projectors, sai surface bein normal to said line, it will be understoo that the two beams will be projected as two luminous points on said surface, and will meet on the same when its position corresponds to the one of the origi-' nal projected point.

SReferring now to Fig. 5, if 14', 15', are the two camera-pro'ectors, thus used, and 23 is the plane sur ace normal to the line bi-secting the angle between the axes of the two camera-pro ectors, if said surface is permanently placed' in the position shown in dotted lines, the two beams 24, 25, issuing from the camera-projectors will appear on said surface as two luminous points 24', 25; the point at which the two beams will meet, from an assumed lane of reference HH, may easily be etermined by some simple calculation. If, on the other hand, in order to avoid the necessity of calculations the surface is made mov ab e along the central line G-C, the same may be set at the distance where the two beams meet, and the distance of the corresponding point may be directly obtained.

Proceeding along them lines, I have accordingly devised a simple apparatus, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, whereby the necessary data maIy readily be ascertained.

n the same, as stated, 14', 15', designate the two camera-projectors, provided with suitable means for successively producing beams of light from corresponding luminous oints of the screen and photographic plate inserted in said projectors. The plane surface, 23, normal to central line C-C, is mounted on a carrier 26, adjustable alon a shaft 27 in an axial direction, said shaft ing in the direction C--C. Said carrier may be set at any position on said shaft by means of a locking lever 28, and its longitudinal position may be readily obtained by means of a graduation 29 on said shaft, and a pointer 30 on said carrier.

Therefore, the position of the surface for each luminous point of the screen may be obtained, the same representing the distance of the corresponding points on the surface of the model used, from the reference plane H-H; and the figures thus obtained may directly be used for the preparation of the tabulated record of depth of penetration for each point of the surface, forming the object of my co-pending application No. 695,227

By suitable additions to the apparatus, a record in diagrammatic form may be directly obtained, obviating the necessity of readin the distance of the surface for each point, and adapted for use in reparing said tabulated record, on the profi es used in my other application No. 690,7 76.

To this end, on the table 31, on which the apparatus is mounted, I provide two transversal guides between which a frame 34 is movable by some suitable step by step hand controlled mechanism, such as shown in Fig. 7, transversely to shaft 27. Said framecarries a roll of paper 35, which is wound at one end 36, and ma be pulled and re-rolled at the other end 3 by means of roll operated by a button 38. Said paper may therefore gradually be fed in the direction of line C-C, while the frame carrying the same may be fed at right, angle thereto.

If the paper is set at a certain position, and the frame 34 is set at one of its extreme positions, and the o eration is started b projecting the first o a horizontal row 0 luminous points on the screen and plate, surface 23 may be set at the meeting point of the two beams of light, as explained. Carrier 26 is provided with a downwardly directed pencil or other sharp marking means 39,

which may be forced against the paper by means of a lever 40, but which is normally held detached from saidv aper by a spring 41. At said point, therefbre, the pencil or marker is operated, and an impression produced on the paper.

If now the frame is moved one step forward, by means of a lever luminous point in the same horizontal row is projected, a new markin will be obtained, corresponding to the new on itudinal position of the surface 23; so t at when the horizontal row has been entirely projected, the paper will show a series of markings, forming a diagram such as 42, constituting the dia am of the corresponding horizontal ro le on the model.

T e paper may now be moved forward by means of button 38, and the diagram of the next row of luminous points may be 'produced in the same manner, and so on, until the entire set of diagrams is produced. If instead of horizontal dia ams or profiles, vertical ones should be desired, it is suflicient to place both the screen and the plate at an angle of ninety degrees in the projectors, proceeding then in the manner described, the vertical rows having thus been converted. into horizontal rows in relation to the ap aratus.

he diagrams thus obtained will obviously furnish the data from which either the tabulated record may be compiled, or the tracking profiles above mentioned.

It is thus seen that by this method an accurate record may be produced of the surface of both inanimate and living objects, from points not in contact with the same; so that models of the most delicate construction are not damaged or injured in an way.

By kee ing an accurate record of t e angular an linear measurements, the method may also be extended to the photographic 42, and the next measurement of statues and works of art which cannot be placed on a stand. such as described, but which must be photographed in the place and position in which they tand.

Both the method and the apparatus described are susceptible of being modified to a certain extent, without departing from the invention'herein described; and I reserve myself the right of carrying my invention into practicein any way which may enter, fairly, intothe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of obtaining data for producing graphic records of the surface of a three-dimensional object, which consists in first projecting a screen having predetermined markings upon a model, then photographing the model with the projection of said screen thereon, and then projecting corresponding points of the screen and of the photograph upon a surface, said points being projected at a predetermined angle to each other, and in determining the distance of the corresponding points on the surface of the model from a given plane of reference, from the positions at which said projections encounter the said surface.

2. The method of obtaining data for producing graphic records of the surface of a three-dimensional object, which consists in first projecting a screen having predetermined markings upon a model, then photographing the model with the projection of said screen thereon, and then projecting, successively, a row of corresponding points, disposed within one plane of the screen and of the photograph upon a surface, the angle between the optical axes of the two projections being the same as the angle between the original optical axes, and in causing the projections of said points to coincide on said surface, by moving said surface within said plane.

3. The method of obtaining data for producing graphic records of the surface of a three-dimensional object, which consists in first projecting-a screen having predetermined markings upon a model, then photo graphing the model with the projection of the screen thereon, and then projecting, successively, a row of corresponding points of the screen and of the photograph upon a surface, said row of projected points disposed within a plane normal to said surface, the angle between the optical axes of the two projections being the same as the angle between the original optical axes, and said surface being normal to a line bi-secting said angle, and in causing the projections of said points to coincide on said surface within said horizontal plane, by moving said surface along said bi-secting line.

4. Apparatus of the class described, comprising two camera projectors having their optical axes directed towards a common point, a surface arranged normally to a line bi-secting the angle formed by said two optical axes, and adjustable along said line, a surface movable at right angle to said line, and means for marking the position of said first mentioned surface along said line, on said movable surface.

5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising two camera-projectors having their optical axes directed towards a common point, a surface arranged normally to a line bi-secting the angle formed by said two optical axes, and adjustable along said line, a surface movable at right angle to said line, means for moving said second mentioned surface one step at a time, and means for marking the position of said first mentioned surface along said line, on said movable surface. 7

6. Apparatus of the class described, comprising two camera-projectors having their optical axes directed towards a common point, a surface arranged normally to a line bi-secting the angle formed by said two optical axes, and adjustable along said line, a surface adjustable in a direction parallel to said line, and movable at right angle to said line, means for moving said second mentioned surface at right angle to said line one step at a time, and means for marking the position of said first mentioned surface along said line, on said movable surface.

7 Apparatus of the class described, comprising two camera-projectors having their optical axes directed towards a common point, a surface arranged normally to a line bi-secting the angle formed by said two optical axes, and adjustable along said line, a surface movable at right angle to said line, means for moving said second mentioned surface one step at a time, means for marking the position of said first mentioned surface along said line, on said movable surface, and means for advancing said second inentioned surface in the direction of said 8. The method of obtaining data for producing graphic records of the surface of a three-dimensional object, which consists in first projecting a screen divided into a plu, rality of sections in symmetrical arrangement upon a model, then photographing the model with the projection of said screen thereon, and then serially projecting corre sponding points of corresponding sections of of the screen and of the photograph upon a surface, the angle between the optical axes of the two projections being the same as the angle between the original optical axes, and

in causing the projections of said corresponding points to coincide by moving said surface.

9. The method of producing graphic records of the surface of a three dimensional on said surface,

object, which consists in first pro'ecting a screen divided into a plurality 0 sections arranged in symmetrical series of adjacent rows, upon a model, then photographing the model with the projection of said screen thereon, serially projecting corresponding points of corresponding sections of each row of the screen and of the photograph upon a surface, the angle between the optical axes of the two projections being the same as the angle between the original optical axes, and said surface being normal to a line bi-secting said angle, moving said surface along said line to positions where the projections of each two corresponding points coincide, and in causing direct markings of said positions to appear upon a diagram blank.

MARIO SCHIESARI. 

